Eric of Good Harvests

Eric of Good Harvests or Eirik Arsale (Swedish: "Erik Årsäll", Old Norse: "Eiríkr hinn ársæli") was a semi-historical king of Sweden. His historiocity has been called into question.cite book | last=Lagerquist |first=Lars O. |year=1997 |title=Sveriges Regenter, från forntid till nutid | publisher=Norstedts |place=Stockholm |pages=p. 45 | id=ISBN 91-1-963882-5] He is dated by some to the end of the 11th century, by others to the 1120's, while more critical historians believe that he is a legendary name belonging to the 10th century. According to some, he was the son of the pagan Swedish king Blot-Sweyn. [http://runeberg.org/nfbg/0412.html "Erik", an article in "Nordisk familjebok"] ] Like his father before him, Eric administered the blóts at the temple at Uppsala. [http://runeberg.org/nfbg/0412.html "Erik", an article in "Nordisk familjebok"] ] However, Eric does not appear in any Swedish or Danish primary sources. [http://runeberg.org/swkyrhis/1/0382.html "Svenska kyrkans historia" (1838)] ]

The 13th century historian Snorri Sturluson wrote in the "Heimskringla" that Blót-Sweyn and Eric had renounced Christianity and still ruled a largely pagan Sweden:

Eric was the contemporary of Inge the Elder, [http://runeberg.org/nfbg/0412.html "Erik", an article in "Nordisk familjebok"] ] and this suggests that Eric was the last high priest (goði) of the Temple at Uppsala, and that he was killed or deposed by Inge the Elder.

Eric is mentioned by a plausible source as the father of Sverker the Elder, [http://runeberg.org/nfbg/0412.html "Erik", an article in "Nordisk familjebok"] ] [http://runeberg.org/swkyrhis/1/0382.html "Svenska kyrkans historia" (1838)] ] which suggests that either Kol [http://runeberg.org/nfbg/0412.html "Erik", an article in "Nordisk familjebok"] ] [http://runeberg.org/swkyrhis/1/0382.html "Svenska kyrkans historia" (1838)] ] [The name of Sverker the Elder's father according to "Skáldatal" (c. 1300).] or Cornube [The name of Sverker the Elder's father according to the "Westrogothic law" (c. 1250).] might have been his true name. "Eric Årsäll" would then be a description of him as a "king during whose reign there were good harvests". [Steinsland, Gro, "Den hellige kongen", Oslo 2000. side 54 ISBN 82-530-2227-1]

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